Mark Viner - Pittville Pump Rooms, Cheltenham

Monday 20th July 2009

Mark Viner is a virtuoso pianist without fuss or mannerisms. His forthright playing of three compositions left one gasping at his command of the keyboard in his choice of unusual repertoire. His strong left hand was heard to advantage in his recital, beginning with Sonata in B minor by Haydn. There was much to admire in his use of dynamics and tone control, with the Menuet being the gentlest music we heard during the afternoon.

Although Schumann’s Etudes Symphoniques Op13 is a set of variations, the movements do not seem to hang together. There is constant onward drive with many unexpected harmonies, but no release from tension until the penultimate wistful and relaxed variation.

It was an interesting treat to hear Alkan’s Symphonie from Douze Etudes Op39 where throughout the four movements one could superimpose orchestral sounds. The slow movement, a funeral march, developed into a lament played with a mixture of calm and tenderness; the Scherzo was appropriately in ternary form and included a tongue-in-cheek salon waltz with a fluid fast moving Trio. Most amazing was the pianistic skill displayed by Viner in the final movement with flourishes and bursts of extreme passion. A group of quieter compositions would have been appreciated in this recital of overwhelmingly dramatic music.

Anne Dunn